Pat Riley

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Often referred to as 'the Godfather', Riley is regarded as one of the greatest NBA figures of all time both as a coach and executive. He has won five NBA championships as a head coach, four with the Los Angeles Lakers during their Showtime era in the 1980s and one with the Heat in 2006. Riley is a nine-time NBA champion across his tenures as a player (1972), assistant coach (1980), head coach (1982, 1985, 1987, 1988, 2006), and executive (2012, 2013). Since the start of his NBA career through 2023, Riley has reached 19 NBA finals across five different decades, making 25 percent of all NBA Finals as a player, coach, or executive.

In Their Own Story

In 2006, Riley achieved a historic milestone by winning an NBA title with the Miami Heat, completing his collection of five championships as a head coach. This victory came after a decade of building the franchise from its expansion roots into a powerhouse. The following years saw him transition fully to the front office while maintaining his influence on the team's direction. Under his executive leadership, the Heat secured back-to-back titles in 2012 and 2013. These wins marked a new chapter for Riley, proving his strategic vision extended beyond coaching. His journey from a reserve player on the 1972 Lakers championship team to an executive winning titles decades later stands as a testament to his enduring excellence in the league.

Reader's Guide

Riley was named NBA Coach of the Year three times (1989–90, 1992–93 and 1996–97, as head coach of the Lakers, New York Knicks and Heat, respectively). He was head coach of an NBA All-Star Game team nine times: eight times with the Western Conference team (1982, 1983, 1985–1990, all as head coach of the Lakers) and once with the Eastern team (1993, as head coach of the Knicks). In 1996, he was named one of the 10 Greatest Coaches in NBA history. In 2008, Riley was inducted in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a coach. He received the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award from the NBA Coaches Association on June 20, 2012.

Did You Know?

• Riley played a significant role as a reserve on the Lakers' 1972 NBA Championship team.
• He was selected by the San Diego Rockets as the seventh overall pick of the 1967 NBA draft.
• Riley was also drafted as a wide receiver by the Dallas Cowboys in the 11th round of the 1967 NFL/AFL draft, despite not having played college football.
• He trademarked the phrase 'three-peat' through his corporate entity, Riles & Co.